Martial Arts Sainthood Begins with the Tiger-Taming Fist

Five more days passed.

After finishing his cultivation in the room, Chen Mo exhaled a breath of stale air and slowly stood up.

With a focused gaze, he summoned the Enlightenment Interface.

[Refined through countless trials, nurtured by mountains and rivers]

【Dragon-Capturing Strength: Basic stance training, focusing on legwork and fist power】

Comprehension: 156/200 (Mastery)

【Tiger Subduing Fist: The fist contains the roar of a tiger, imbued with immense power】

Comprehension: 152/200 (Mastery)

[Luo Yanbu: Steps leave trails of smoke, shadows vanish without a trace]

Comprehension: 70/200 (Mastery)

[Iron Sharpness Skill: Like a shield of sharpness covering the body, as if made of copper and iron]

Comprehension: 58/100 (Minor Success)

【The Mysterious Art of Separating Fire: An Ancient Technique for Controlling Fire】

Comprehension: 25/100 (Minor Success)

After several days of cultivation, his cultivation level has stabilized at the late stage of Dark Force.

At this moment, his body was already extremely strong. After mastering the Iron Light Skill, his back, waist, abdomen, and arms were as hard as copper and iron.

Saying it's "invulnerable to swords and spears" is a bit of an exaggeration, but it can withstand a full-force attack from a martial artist in the middle or late stages of internal energy cultivation without breaking a sweat.

If they were to fight Zhao Huayuan again now, it would be easier than before.

After killing Zhao Huayuan that day, he repeatedly practiced and reflected on the battle at home, transforming many of its details into the essence of martial arts techniques such as Dragon-Capturing Force and Tiger-Subduing Fist.

Even the smallest contribution every day is worthwhile.

The feeling of progressing day by day gave him a vague premonition that breaking through to the Transformation Realm wouldn't be as difficult for him as it was for others.

After all, with the skills of cultivating one's talents through mountains and rivers, it's just a matter of refining more materials.

The day before yesterday, Shen Qi had led several subordinates from the Chuzhou government office to escort Lin Chong and others to Chuzhou.

Before he left, he drew a simple map of the route to Nine Swords Mountain and the surrounding environment and gave it to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo examined the map closely, memorizing all the details.

At this moment, Chen Lan came out of the kitchen and walked to Chen Mo's side, her expression slightly downcast. "You're leaving tomorrow. I've packed food and clothes for the journey into your bag. Remember to take them with you."

"Okay," Chen replied readily.

Chen Lan added, "Don't make enemies around, don't be reckless, be careful to protect yourself, and..."

"If you want to come back, come back sooner rather than later."

At this point, Chen Lan's eyes were already moist, and she deliberately turned her head away so that Chen Mo wouldn't see it.

"Sister, don't worry, I'll be back."

Chen Mo said, "Sister, I've already spoken to Xie Jinnian and Xie Jinyou. If you ever run into trouble, you can ask them for help. Wu Zhi'ai is also someone you can trust."

Chen Lan nodded, her eyes blurry with tears.

The next morning, before the morning dew had dried.

Xie Jinyou brought Chen Mo a fine black horse with a black mane, saying it could travel two hundred li a day without a problem.

Chen Mo knew that the ancient saying that the Ferghana horse could travel a thousand miles a day was an exaggeration, but it was possible to travel two hundred miles a day with enough rest and fodder.

Xie Jinyou said, "From Anyang County, heading north, you will pass through two more counties before reaching Chuzhou Prefecture. Within these counties, there are many post stations along the way that provide fodder for your horses, which can be replenished three times a day."

"It's over 800 li to Chuzhou Prefecture. The journey is long and the cost will be considerable. Here is a note worth 200 taels of silver. Keep it with you in case of emergency."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo wanted to decline, but Xie Jinyou insisted on giving it to him, saying that it was a loan and he could repay it later.

Chen Mo thought for a moment, and just to be on the safe side, he nodded and stopped refusing.

Before his departure, Wu Zhiai, Yin Shanshan, and Ji Chang came to see him off, bringing him snacks, medicines, and other items. Wu Zhiai also thoughtfully gave him some forging materials.

Take care, everyone!

Chen Mo clasped his hands tightly in a fist salute, then spurred his horse and rode away.

Chen Lan watched the receding figure, tears silently streaming down her face, before turning and going back into the house.

……

North of Anyang County, along the village and mountain road, black-maned steeds galloped along the official road as fast as lightning.

As evening approached, the man and his horse stopped and rested in an inn.

After eating the fodder, the horse rested contentedly on the spot.

Chen Mo practiced his martial arts skills by refining his skills in the cramped guest room of the inn, while also practicing stances and boxing.

Early the next morning, he set off on horseback and arrived in Qingzhu County.

We rested three times a day, making sure that both ourselves and the horse got enough rest each time.

Two more days passed, and on the fourth day, they arrived in Jinyu County, which borders Chuzhou Prefecture and also Jiujian Mountain.

Chen Mo's destination was Bagong Town in Jinyu County.

Bagong Town is located at the southern foot of Jiujian Mountain. It is a place frequented by many martial artists and a place of residence for those who want to join Jiujian Mountain.

According to information gathered at the post station over the past few days, Jiujian Mountain will hold a "Sword Trial" in Bagong Town this year to select martial artists to enter Jiujian Mountain for training.

Chen Mo couldn't hide his longing, and he quickened his pace.

That evening, while passing by an inn, he discovered that the inn had been abandoned for some time. He had no choice but to travel another five miles to a small village, where there was a simple inn by the roadside.

So they moved in.

After feeding the horse, Chen Mo was about to return to his room to rest when he encountered several people dressed in martial arts attire, both men and women, who had also checked into the inn.

He paid a little attention but didn't think much of it, and went inside to practice his boxing stances.

During the past few days on the road, while his horse rested, he searched for many cicada shells in the forest, so he did not neglect to hone his understanding of the Fire Blaze Technique.

The flame that now forms in his palm is about the size of a watermelon and is much hotter than before.

In the middle of the night, Chen Mo stopped his cultivation and slowly fell asleep, but remained alert.

……

He didn't know how much time had passed when he suddenly woke up in a half-asleep state. He got up, opened the window, and looked out. He saw that the stable had suddenly caught fire.

Because the stable was mostly filled with dry hay, the fire spread extremely quickly, and flames engulfed half of the stable in an instant.

Chen Mo's expression changed, and he immediately jumped out of the window. After landing, he stomped his foot and leaped over the flames that were half a meter high, rushing to his black-maned horse.

At this moment, mournful cries echoed all around. Various fine horses were engulfed in flames, their manes easily ignited. Moreover, the ground of the stable was covered with dry grass, so the horses' hooves could not escape the fire, let alone dangle in the air.

Once a horse's hoof is injured, the horse is ruined.

Chen Mo quickly untied the reins from the wooden fence and pulled the black-maned horse out of the fire.

Protected by the Iron Mane Technique, he was able to withstand the flames for a few breaths, but the Black Mane Horse was not so lucky.

After Chen Mo pulled it out of the stable and into the open courtyard, its hooves were charred black, and it was emitting intermittent moans.

At the same time, the innkeeper and other guests rushed out of their rooms one after another, some sprinkling water, some standing there in a daze, and some shouting.

Fifteen minutes later, the fire subsided, but the horses were already cooked through in the flames.

At that moment, someone in the crowd shouted, "Someone is deliberately setting fire!"